BAYLIES V. CLARK, LT, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Baylies Clark '30

Date of birth: January 8, 1909

Date of death: May 23, 1941

Age: 32

Lucky Bag

From the 1930 Lucky Bag:

1930 Clark LB.jpg

BAYLIES VOORHEIS CLARK

San Francisco, California

"B. V." "McCloskey"

ANOTHER boy from the Golden State of California. Like other native sons, he is always ready to expound on the wonders of that greatest of states, and especially on that super-city inside the Golden Gate. But B. V. is not content to rest on the laurels won by his state. As an individual, he seeks to enhance his nautical abilities so that he may be a credit to the Navy.

He has a hobby. Steam, the curse of his classmates, is his true love. It is a valuable aid to him, for the work he does in Isherwood Hall gives him a grasp and practical knowledge of Steam that has put him in the first section. Though not a savoir, his quick mind and retentive memory give him sufficient time for magazines and letter-writing. He is a valuable and willing company athlete besides having a berth on the B-squad.

His most lovable trait is a true generosity. He cannot say "No" to any plea, and his "big-heartedness" is free and sincere. His sunny good nature and friendly disposition make him a man to be happy with.

B Squad 4, 3; 2 P.O.

1930 Clark LB.jpg

BAYLIES VOORHEIS CLARK

San Francisco, California

"B. V." "McCloskey"

ANOTHER boy from the Golden State of California. Like other native sons, he is always ready to expound on the wonders of that greatest of states, and especially on that super-city inside the Golden Gate. But B. V. is not content to rest on the laurels won by his state. As an individual, he seeks to enhance his nautical abilities so that he may be a credit to the Navy.

He has a hobby. Steam, the curse of his classmates, is his true love. It is a valuable aid to him, for the work he does in Isherwood Hall gives him a grasp and practical knowledge of Steam that has put him in the first section. Though not a savoir, his quick mind and retentive memory give him sufficient time for magazines and letter-writing. He is a valuable and willing company athlete besides having a berth on the B-squad.

His most lovable trait is a true generosity. He cannot say "No" to any plea, and his "big-heartedness" is free and sincere. His sunny good nature and friendly disposition make him a man to be happy with.

B Squad 4, 3; 2 P.O.

Loss

Baylies was killed during bombing practice over the Atlantic on May 23, 1941. He was the pilot; two other crew were aboard but survived. There was a problem with the aircraft, but he was able to maintain control long enough for his crewmen to bail out safely. One of them reported that "he was either unable to get out, or when he did, he was hit by part of the plane and knocked unconscious."

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Baylies attended school in Sutter Creek and San Francisco.

He was married in 1930 to Adrienne Hedger Clark of San Francisco; he and his wife had three daughters, Leslie, Susan, and Sally. His wife was "socially prominent" (per the San Francisco Examiner on June 6, 1930) who had graduated Miss Burke's School, then "finished her education at Lausanne, Switzerland, and the University of California."

His father Baylies was a platinum mine superintendent at Morris Ravine and later city engineer in Sacramento. His mother was a California state PTA officer. His sister was Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Walter B. Gibbons) of Orinda, and his grandfather was the late Senator Edward C. Voorheis.

The Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, California) reported on October 24, 1936 that Adrienne had recently participated in a cross-country "air derby," flying solo across the country to Hagerstown, Maryland. She finished 20 of 40 overall, but won "one lap and won $500."

He had been a member of Scouting Squadron 71 since January 2, 1941; the squadron was embarked aboard USS Wasp (CV 7).

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.

October 1930
Ensign, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT Francis Bridget '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
January 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT Francis Bridget '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
April 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LT Francis Bridget '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
July 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
January 1932
Ensign, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
April 1932
Ensign, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1932
Ensign, USS Arizona


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Craig '22 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B)
January 1933
Ensign, USS Arizona


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Craig '22 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B)
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31 (Battleship Division 3)
April 1933
Ensign, USS Arizona


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Craig '22 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B)
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31 (Battleship Division 3)
July 1933
Ensign, USS Arizona


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James Craig '22 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B)
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31 (Battleship Division 3)
October 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LCDR Ryland Tisdale '15 (USS Lexington)
LCDR William Sample '19 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Lance Massey '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
January 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LCDR William Sample '19 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Lance Massey '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
April 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington

Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LCDR William Sample '19 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Lance Massey '30 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
October 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington

Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS George Fuller '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
January 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Ranger


Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LT Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
April 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Ranger


Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LT Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
July 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B, USS West Virginia


Others at or embarked at USS West Virginia:
LT William Haynsworth, Jr. '23 (USS West Virginia)
ENS John Powers '35 (USS West Virginia)
ENS Allan Edmands '35 (USS West Virginia)
ENS Frank Graham '36 (USS West Virginia)
January 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B, USS West Virginia


Others at or embarked at USS West Virginia:
LT William Haynsworth, Jr. '23 (USS West Virginia)
ENS John Powers '35 (USS West Virginia)
ENS Allan Edmands '35 (USS West Virginia)
ENS Frank Graham '36 (USS West Virginia)
April 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B, USS West Virginia


Others at or embarked at USS West Virginia:
LT William Haynsworth, Jr. '23 (USS West Virginia)
ENS Keats Montross '35 (Battleship Division 4)
ENS Allan Edmands '35 (USS West Virginia)
ENS Frank Graham '36 (USS West Virginia)
September 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone

January 1938
Lieutenant (j.g.), Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone

July 1938
Lieutenant (j.g.), Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, Coco Solo, Canal Zone

Others at this command:
January 1939
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
October 1939
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 12, San Diego, California
June 1940
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 12, San Diego, California
November 1940
Lieutenant, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2, USS Lexington


Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT Louis Shane, Jr. '26 (USS Lexington)
LT Charles Crommelin '31 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg Robert Fair '33 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Joel Davis, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LTjg Clyde McCroskey, Jr. '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
LTjg John Hunter '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
LTjg Thomas Edwards, Jr. '37 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
ENS Edward Price '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Allan Wussow '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Seiler, Jr. '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Willard Sampson '40 (USS Lexington)
April 1941
Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 71, USS Wasp


Others at or embarked at USS Wasp:
LCDR Rogers Elliott '22 (USS Wasp)
LT John Burke '28 (USS Wasp)
LTjg James Fitzpatrick, Jr. '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 72)
LTjg Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)
LTjg Webster Johnson '36 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 72)


Class of 1930

Baylies is one of 42 members of the Class of 1930 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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